Petrobras begins SAF supply at Rio de Janeiro International Airport

Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras began commercial supply of domestically produced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the country.

The company has delivered 3,000 cubic metres of SAF at the Rio de Janeiro International Airport.

“The SAF produced through co-processing at our refining facility contributes to meeting the decarbonisation goals of the aviation sector. It is a competitive product that meets rigorous international standards. We are offering the national market the opportunity to meet global demands, anticipating compliance with CORSIA,” said Petrobras president Magda Chambriard.

Petrobras is the first domestic Brazilian producer to obtain certification from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) under CORSIA rules for the SAF.

Brazilian government has enacted the Fuel of the Future law in October requiring all airlines to use SAF on domestic routes from 2027. The law also require international operators departing Brazil to meet CORSIA targets.

The company’s SAF is ISCC-CORSIA certified and uses a blend of renewable inputs, including residual corn technical oil and soybean oil, co-processed with mineral kerosene.

The SAF was produced through the co-processed pathway.

Earlier, Petrobras said it is investing in construction of dedicated biorefining plants for SAF production at the Presidente Bernardes Refinery (RPBC) in Cubatão and Boaventura Energy Complex (BEC).

The plants at the RPBC and BEC sites will have production capacity of 15,000bpd and 19,000bpd respectively. Both plants are scheduled to begin operations after 2029.